The Investigation (El caso del submarino)

In the summer of 2017 Jens Møller, head of the Copenhagen Homicide unit, is called in when a privately built submarine sinks. The builder of the craft survives but there is no sign of Swedish journalist, Kim Wall, who was also on board. At first the maker claims he put there ashore before the accident but there is no sign on CCTV. When the sub is recovered he changes his story; now he claims that she died when she hit her head on a hatch and he 'buried her at sea'. Without her body it will be hard to charge him with murder. Divers and cadaver dogs are used in an attempt to find the body but the operation will be far from easy as there is a huge area of water to search.

If this plot had been suggested as part of a 'Midsumer Murders' story it would have been rejected as far to unlikely... however it actually happened; making the news well beyond Denmark and Sweden. The story is told from the point of view of the investigators; we never see the builder of the submarine; in fact he is never referred to by name... after what we learn about of him he doesn't deserve to be remembered. The story is taut even though the final resolution will be known to anybody who watched the news concerning the case; as the search lasts months one wonders if the vital evidence will ever be found. The cast, which features many familiar faces does a fantastic job playing the characters in a no-nonsense way. Overall I'd certainly recommend this; it might not be fast paced but I found it gripping.

These comments are based on watching the series in Danish with English subtitles.

It was interesting to see Pilou Asbaek in the prosecutor's chair for The Investigation; in the recent film 'A War' he was cast in the role of the accused. Soren Malling was also in 'A War', as Asbaek's character's defense lawyer, but in The Investigation he's the main character, Jens Moller. Moller's character type will be familiar to fans of police procedurals - he's the hardworking detective with troubles at home. What distinguishes The Investigation from lesser series in the genre, however, is its eschewal of graphic violence and unlikely or fantastic plot developments. The latter can perhaps be explained by the series being a representation of a true story so strange and unique that no over-writing is necessary. The quality of the writing is exemplified when Moller lets down his daughter to attend a calll-out to the pathology lab. While waiting on a bench outside the lab with his junior female partner, she falls asleep on his shoulder, and in that simple moment we see that he is providing the support to her that his daughter needs from him. We are also shown his professional values in the contrasting way he deals with reporters seeking news on the case, and Kim Wall's parents. He promises them all that they'll be the first to know if he has any news, but he only delivers on that promise to the parents. We sense that he has his priorities right. The Investigation's biggest strength is in showing the immense effort that goes in to achieving justice when a murder is committed. Without that effort, justice can't be achieved, and so it is a reminder that justice doesn't come cheaply. But surely that's the way it should be if we're to value human life appropriately.

I didn't realise when I started watching this that it was a true story. I thought it was so well done. It was slow, but I enjoyed the pace, it seemed to reflect the snails pace of the investigation. They had so little to go on, and were so persistent and relentless, refusing to give up on getting justice. I enjoyed watching how all the various teams, divers, forensics, detectives, prosecutor, just keep going, edging closer to the truth. An awful, tragic crime and so many people caring deeply about the outcome.

Also, the music is wonderful.

I have watched just about everything that comes out of the Nordic and Baltic countries and this offering is certainly up there. It won't appeal to everyone because it cruises along in first gear for all 6 episodes. Not that this is an issue. It is well shot with incredibly understated emotion and subtle tension added to by excellent performances from the actors. It's the realism and the complete lack of Hollywood formula that I loved. Worth a binge!

This is brilliant, one of the best crime series I've seen in a long while. The characters are real, believable and sympathetic. Nothing too showy and no prima donnas. Educational too. I don't normally binge-watch but this was compelling.